Dispensing apparatus



May 1, 1945. J. M. REYNOLDS DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed June 19, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet l Jkw M.

y 1, 1945. J. M. REYNOLDS DISPENSING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 19, 1943 Inventor 5% J70 M- 786W .5

" y W Attorney y 1, 1945. J. M. REYNOLDS 2,374,896

DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed June 19, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 J53 M. FeyzgflMS I n mentor May 1, 1945.

.1. M. REYNOLDS 2,374,896

DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed June 19, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 I Ill/entw- May 1, 1945.

J. M. REYNOLDS DISPENSING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 19, 1943 Juan M By E and Zds Patented May 1, 1945 John M. Reynolds, Pamela Al-k. Application June 19, 1943, Serial No. 491,543

2 Claims. (01. 194-7) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in dispensing machines and more particularly to a. machine for dispensing receptacles such as containers of beverage and the like.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a simplified mechanism whereby containers of beverage can be positively dispensed to the purchaser upon deposit of the proper denom ination coin or check.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a dispensing mechanism of the character stated which is substantially automatic in operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following description.

In the drawings: Figure 1 represents a front elevational the dispenser.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view transversely through the mechanism. v t

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the mechanism with the top removed.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view through the mechanism.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the coin release arm and contact carrier.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that view of I8 is employed for driving the chain H. i The motor [8 drives a sprocket chain l8, which, in turn drives a gear 20 and this, in turn, drives a pinion 2| on a shaft 22 with one of the sprocket wheels I3. i i

For controlling the motor I8, a rockable arm 23 is provided in a side compartment 24. This rocker 23 is fulcrumed as at 25 andcarries a contact 26 at one end thereof. This end of the rocker 23 being operative against a stop 21 andhaving its opposite end connected by a link 28 with a lateral arm 29 on a shaft an whichextends inwardly and carries the aforementioned trap door Ilia. A coiled tension spring 3| has one end connected to the arm A guide 33 on the wall d acts to guide an elongated strip spring 34 which is secured as at 35 to the wall d. I i i A second contact 36 is provided and this issecured fixedly to the wall d in spaced opposed relation to the contact 26 carried by the rocker 23.

The space between the contacts 26,. 36 underlies the lower end'of a coin chute 31. From the conergization of the motor numeral 5 denotes a cabinet having a front wall a, back wall D and side walls 0 and d. A frame 6 is located midway between the top and bottom of the cabinet and above this is a platform 1 which is slightly spaced from a shelf 8 to define a slotway 9 in which upstanding containerpushing pins I0 can move. Walls II are provided on the platform I, as shown in Figure 4, to define guideways for the containers l2.

of each of the walls I l is a sprocket wheel l3 and over these sprocket wheels is trained an endless chain l4 upwardly from which the pins Ill project. As is apparent in Figure 4, the chain takes on the tortuous appearance of the slotway 9 and also passes under a return slot [5. This slot 15 passes the upper end of a chute I6 and adjacent As can be seen in Figure 5, an electric motor the apparatus, moving and. rocks the trap door Y 401 Under the platform 1 and underlyingeach end tacts 26, sa conductors 38 and 39 extend to the motor 38 any suitable shown). 1

It can now be seen, that when a coin has been inserted in the chute 31 and the same drops, it bridges the contacts 26, 36 and results in the en- I 8, As the motor drives a container l2 to the drops down the chute and shaft 30, with the result that the end 20 of the shaft lifts the link 28 and actuates the rocker 23. This lowers the chute l6, the container contact 26 and allows the coin to fall therefrom. Thus the circuit to the motor is brokenresulting in the stopping of the mechanism, as the rocker 23 regains its position as shown in Figure 2, due to the action of spring 3|.

A suitable refrigerant unit 50 is provided in the cabinet, or this may be an ice chest.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is tobe understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, what i is claimed as new is:

which 1. A dispensing apparatus comprising an endless chain, container 29 and the other end source of current (not engageable pinson the 4 1 chain, a platform having a slot therein through the pins project and in'which. the pins move to push containers on the platform, a chute adjacent the slot and depending from the platform, a deflector adjacent the. chute for deflecting containers into the chute, operating means for the chain, a coin closable switch including a rockable member operative to hold and release a coin, respectively, a trap door in the chute operative to open under the weight of a container thereon, a shaft operated by opening of the trap door and'adapted to operate the rockable memher to release a coin when the weight of a container opens said trap door.

2. A dispensing apparatus comprising an endless chain, container engageable pins on the chain, a platform having a slot therein through 1 which the pins project and in'which the pins move to push containers on the platform, a chute adjacent the slot and depending from the platform, a deflector adjacent the chute for deflecting containers into the chute, operating means for the chain, a coin closable switch including a rockable member, a trap door in the chute operative to open under the weight of a container thereon, a shaft operated by the trap door and adapted to operate the rockable member in one direction when the weight of a container opens said trap door, and spring means opposing operation of the rockable member in said one direction.

JOHN M. REYNOLDS. 

